REVISITING THE CONCEPT AND APPLICATION OF THE PHENOMENON OF TADBIR (DETOXIFICATION)*

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1 Inti. Chem. Phann. Med. J. Vol. 2(1), pp (2005) REVISITING THE CONCEPT AND APPLICATION OF THE PHENOMENON OF TADBIR (DETOXIFICATION)* Aftab Saeed, Tasneem Qure~hi and Uzma Shafi Hamdard Institute of Advanced Studies & Research, Hamdard University, Karachi, Pakistan ABSTRACT: Greco-Arab System of Medicine contains diverse factors from different cultures in terms of philosophy and materia medica developed technically well-organized procedures of processing for safety and eliminating toxicity from natural drugs for rational therapy. This pharmaceutically established phenomenon in its application may be referred as Tadbir. Commonly it may be denoted as purification, processing and detoxification. At one hand this art of reduction of toxic components in natural drugs bear reference to the renowned Masters of Un ani Medical Science like Al-Razi, Al- Majusi and Al-Zahrawi. On the other hand, the phenomenon of Tadbir comprising different methods of purification, processing and detoxification are indicated to have been assimilated into Greco-Arab System of Medicine as historically established Indian medical (Ayurvedic) factors commonly referred as Sadhana (purification) and Marana (killing) under the overall concept of Rasa sastra. In scientific understanding of Tadbir procedures are employed to make raw natural drugs (mostly with temperament of 3rd/4'h Order) of poisonous nature or with known toxicity free from such poisonous, side or unwanted effects. There is detectable physico-chemical change observed on the part of the raw material as a result of such procedures, and the relevant items become easily digestible, absorbable and assimilable. Added advantage of such procedures is that as an outcome relevant natural drugs become harmless for administration in prescribed dose, more potent in exhibiting pharmacological activity and may be stored for longer periods as compared to unprocessed natural materials. In overall composition of natural raw drugs, following such processing methods, decrease in potentially toxic bioactive ingredients occurs. For example lowering of Strychnine in Nux vomica, Morphine in Opium, Phenols and Bhilawanol in Semecarpus, a-glycosidic Chrysophanol in Rhubarb species etc. In the light of above mentioned study, an attempt has been made in this paper to project the benefits of Greco-Arab and Indian approaches towards employing the methods of processing, purification and detoxification of natural drugs in order to derive more benefits from the otherwise potentially toxic drugs in raw (unprocessed) state. Work is underway at the Hamdard Institute of Advanced Studies & Research, Hamdard University Karachi. KEYWORDS: Tadbir, Greco-Arab System of Medicine, Ayurvedic, Rasa Sastra, Temperament, Potentially Toxic Bioactive Ingredients. INTRODUCTION One of the distinguished features of Unani System of Medicine is that it meticulously cares for non-toxic effects of drugs on the human body. In this healing system of medicine whenever 'Natural Drugs' of known toxic principles are prescribed, like Calotropis procera, Strychnos Nux- vomica, Papaver somniferum, Semecarpus, Rhubarb, Aloes, etc., these are advised to be purified, processed and or detoxified before use or before including into a desired formulation. It is a safety approach to avert any adverse, side or toxic affect(s) of the item under consideration. JUSTIFICA TION The preliminary project has been undertaken in the best interest of Unani Medicine to interpret the phenomenon of Tadbir scientifically including methods of purification, processing and or detoxification. The method varies for different types of natural drugs from vegetable, animal and mineral kingdoms. The study is of analytical nature where quantitative reduction of active compounds shall be manipulated in the first phase supported by comparison with the standards available. It shall be followed by pre-clinical toxicity study using experimental animals for observation. This phenomenon is termed as Tadbir or Islah and is followed to bring a change in the composition of the natural drug and as a result get rid or minimize the potentially toxic component of the natural drug, instead the method may substantiate its desired positive attribute. Such purified, processed and or detoxified items are called Mudabbir and in Unani pharmacy many natural drugs are made Mudabbir before including into relevant formulations or using in specific prescriptions (Kabiruddin, 1942). Active Compounds which are reduced quantitatively as a result of Tadbir (Purification, Processing and or Detoxification): Conventional Approaches in Unani Medicine towards minimizing bitterness, reducing toxic effects, and improve absorption have been indicated not only by the GrecoArab physicians in history of medicine, but the Ayurvedic pharmacy also propounds this methodology to be of great significance. The procedures in fact, /1ICPMJ@Karachi University Press 207

2 Aftab Saeed et al. IntI. Chem. Pharm. Med. J. Examples of some Natural Drugs of Unani Medicine, which are subjected to Tadbir before use. Botanical Name English Name Unani Temperament Citrullus colocynth is Colocynthis lndrayin Warm 4 Dry 2 Order Calotropis procera Swallow-wort Aak Warm & Dry 4 Order Hyoscyamus niger Henbane Ajwain Khurasani Cold & Dry 3 Order Papaver somniferum Opium Khashakhash Cold & Dry 4 Order' Tamarindus indica Tamarind lmli Cold 1 Dry 2 Order Prunus amygdalus Almond Badam Warm & Dry 3 Order Strychnos Nux vomica Nux Vomica Kuchla Warm & Dry 3 Order Peganum harmala Syrian Rue Harmal Warm & Dry 2 Order Withania somnifera Wintercherry Asgand Warm & Dry 3 Order Datura stramonium Thorn Apple Dhaturah Cold & Dry 4 Order Brassica nigra BlackiYellow Mustard Khardal Warm & Dry 4 Order Carum carvi Black Caraway Zirah Siyah Warm & Dry 3 Order Rheun emodi Rhubarb Rewand Chini Murakkabul-Quwwa Colchicum luteum Colchicum Suranjan Warm & Dry 3 Order Aconitum chasmanthum Aconite Bichnag Warm & Dry 4 Order Semicarpus anacardium Marking Nut Bi/adar Warm & Dry 4 Order Arsenicum Arsenic Sankhiya Warm & Dry 4 Order Arsenic Sulfate White Oxide of Arsenic Sankhiya Warm & Dry 4 Order enabled the physicians to undertake use and prescription of raw natural products, direct or indiscriminate use of which may prove fatal. The phenomenon also supported expansion of the materia medica of Greco-Arab medicine particularly by assimilating those natural substances which were of the Spanish, European, Chinese, Central Asian and Indian origin. Use of natural materials like Calotropis and Strychnos, inorganics like Arsenic and Sulfur and metallics like Silver and Gold following Tadbir over the centuries has proved to be effective. But the phenomenon in fact needs scientific evaluation or interpretation. One of the approaches to find difference between the crude natural herbal materials with those which have been turned Mudabbir is to subject them to phytochemical evaluation. Quantitative difference between the two forms of active compounds has been found to be from 0.5% or more. Methods of purification, processing and detoxification differ from one species to another and therefore the active components also differ accordingly. Some commonly referred Unani drugs which essentially require to be 208 treated before use include for example Colocynth (fruit), Strychnos (fruit), Hyoscyamus (fruit/seeds), Poppy (latex) and Rhubarb (rhizome/root) contain active components like those mentioned below which are reduced as a result of Tadbir. MA TERIALS & METHODS A) Conventional Methods: Some Examples: Citrullus colocynthis (Indrain/ Hanzal): Small limestone pieces are kept in two liters of water for 12 hours then this water is strained. One kilogram Colocynthis fruits cut into small pieces are kept in this strained lime water for about 24 hours and the water is again strained. This procedure is repeated thrice. As a result, bitterness of the fruit material is diminished. If there is left some bitterness the procedure may be repeated. The material regarded as lndrain Mudabbir may be used without fear of possessing any harm in recommended doses. Papaver somniferum (Afiyun): The dried latex is moistened well in Aqua Rose, strained and the kept on heat to dry and concentrate to a limit that it can be 002-0SIIICPMJ@Karachi University Press

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